Hydromassage device for use in a bathtub

ABSTRACT

A hydromassage device for use in a bathtub includes a battery casing to hold electrical batteries, preferably chargeable batteries, which are connected to a drive motor for a pump, where a pump casing, a motor casing and a battery casing are connected to one another and at least one of the casings is equipped with a holding arrangement for attaching the device to the wall of the tub. The battery casing and the motor casing are separate, detachably connected waterproof casings, the battery casing and the motor casing having on their outer walls contact members forming contacts with each other when in the operating state the two casings are connected to each other, in each casing forming contact pairs, to which the batteries or the drive motor are connected. In the operating state, at least one sealing arrangement gives the region of the contact pairs a waterproof seal.

DESCRIPTION:

The invention relates to a hydromassage device for use in a bathtub,having a pump casing which is connected to at least one intake apertureand to at least one nozzle-shaped discharge aperture and in which a pumpimpeller is seated, and having a motor casing in which an electric drivemotor is arranged that is connected to the pump impeller, and furtherhaving a battery casing in which batteries, preferably chargeablebatteries, are arranged which are connected to the drive motor, withpump casing, motor casing and battery casing being connected with oneanother and at least one of the casings being provided with holdingmeans for securing the device to the wall of the tub.

A hydromassage device of the type described above is known from theGerman Patent 40 04 801. In the prior art hydromassage device, the motorcasing and the battery casing are embodied so as to be fixedly connectedto one another in one piece and they are in open connection with oneanother. The batteries are charged via terminal contacts guided towardthe outside which can be connected to the charger via a plug. Thisprocess includes the risk that the user will leave the charger in thetub, possibly also in a filled tub, and will connect the hydromassagedevice to the charger in the event of a diminishing battery charge andwill thereby attempt to maintain the operation directly by means of apower supply through the charger. Even if a charger is separatedgalvanically from the 220 Volt voltage supply, there still exists thedanger of an electric shock in the presence of possible defects of thecharger. A further drawback of the prior art arrangement is that, forreplacing the batteries, the combined motor-battery casing must beopened and that, after a battery replacement, water may enter the motorcasing as well as the battery casing if the seal is defective so thatthe device as a whole may be destroyed.

It is the object of the invention to embody a hydromassage device of theabove-mentioned type such that the device as a whole meets strictersafety requirements.

According to the invention, this object is solved in that the batterycasing and the motor casing are each formed by separate, waterproofcasings, which are detachably connected with one another, that, on theiroutside wall, the battery casing and the motor casing are respectivelyprovided with electrical contact members which are in contact with oneanother when, in the operating state, both casings are connected withone another and which respectively form a contact pair with which thebatteries or the drive motor are connected, and that, in the operatingstate, the region of the contact pairs is sealed by at least one sealingarrangement so as to be waterproof. This arrangement has the advantagethat the battery casing as well as the motor casing, each by itself, areembodied to be waterproof so that the user cannot open the casingsthemselves neither for charging nor for replacing the batteries and thatthus the original factory seal of the individual elements cannot becancelled by the user. For charging the batteries, the battery casingmust be detached and must be connected directly to the charger outsideof the tub. Charging takes place via the same contact members thatrespectively form the contact pairs in the operating state with thecontact members of the motor casing. A further advantage of thearrangement according to the invention is that the user does not have toreplace the batteries himself but that a factory-manufactured completebattery casing including batteries can always be made available to him.This battery casing can then respectively be supplied with all of theelements which can wear out if they are frequently detached for chargingsuch as, for example, the sealing arrangement or the means fordetachably connecting the two casings with one another. In contrast, themotor casing and the pump casing can be embodied as one piece so that ahermetic seal of the motor casing is provided here as well, which sealonly has an opening for the shaft passage or the seating of the pumpimpeller. This passage is then also factory-sealed, with this seal notbeing accessible to the user for normal use.

While it is possible, in principle, to seal the gap which closes the twocontact pairs between battery casing and motor casing by means of aseal, it is provided as a particularly advantageous embodiment of theinvention that each contact pair can be sealed by itself via a sealingarrangement so as to be waterproof. This arrangement has the advantagethat, even if water enters into the gap between battery casing and motorcasing, the separate sealing of each contact pair practically rules outa short circuit. It is advisable if, in addition to the sealingarrangements which seal each contact pair by itself as a primary seal, afurther sealing arrangement is provided which seals the gap betweenbattery casing and motor casing as a whole in the form of a secondaryseal. This increases safety.

In an advisable embodiment of the invention it is further provided thatthe battery casing and the motor casing can be connected with oneanother by means of a latch connection. Such a latch connection, forexample, embodied in the manner of a bayonet lock, offering, preferablyin the form of a "coded" design of the elements forming the latchconnection, a definitive allocation of the casings that are to beconnected with one another, gives the assurance that in the latchedposition, i. e., in the operating state, the contact members of thecontact pairs respectively are in contact with one another. An operatingerror as it may occur, for example, in a screw connection is thus ruledout. The "coding" may be achieved by the position and/or the dimensionsof the elements of the latch connection.

In a further embodiment of the invention it is provided that at leastthe motor casing is equipped with an air intake pipe which ends in theregion of the nozzle-shaped discharge aperture. Here, it is advisable ifthe air intake pipe is integrated into the design of the motor casing.Via a corresponding attachment, an extension in the form of a flexibletube or pipe can also be fitted to the end of the air intake pipe, whichtube or pipe can be guided beyond the edge of the tub and can be securedthere. This ensures that air is always drawn in during the operation.Advisably, the attachment at the tub edge is such that the intakeaperture ends downward against the edge of the tub. This has theadvantage that water cannot splash into the bathroom if, throughcarelessness, the nozzle-shaped discharge aperture of the pump casing isclosed off, for example, by a cloth or by hand.

In an advisable embodiment of the invention it is further provided thatthe air intake pipe is guided on the outside of the motor casing and onthe outside of the battery casing and is divided in the connectingregion between motor casing and battery casing. This arrangement has theadvantage that, depending on the dimensions of the overall arrangement,the intake aperture of the air intake pipe is already formed by the endwhich is guided out of the battery casing, with the aperture of the airintake pipe which is guided out of the battery casing then beingdisposed at a sufficient distance above the water level of the tubfilling. By angling the free end of the air intake pipe guided out ofthe battery casing, it can also be ensured here that the water that ispushed out through the air intake pipe splashes directly into the tubwhen the nozzle-shaped discharge aperture on the pump casing is closed.Since the air intake pipe is guided on the outside of both the motorcasing and the battery casing, it is ensured that the sealed gap betweenbattery casing and motor casing, in which gap the contact pairs arearranged, does not have an opening in its tight seal vis-a-vis thesurroundings.

It is advisable for the dividing point of the air intake pipe in theoperating state to be sealed against the outside via a sealingarrangement. This ensures that only air is drawn into the nozzle-shapeddischarge aperture via the air intake pipe.

In further embodying the invention it is provided that the pump casingis embodied in two sections, with one section being connected in amaterial-to-material bonding with the motor casing. This design allows aparticularly advantageous manufacture and assembly. Advisably, thecasings are injection-molded from a plastic material so that the endface of the motor casing facing the pump casing can already be designedsuch that it forms the complete pump casing in cooperation with theplaced on top section of the pump casing. Here, the second section whichis placed on top can be connected with the section disposed on the motorcasing by means of a mechanical connection, bonding or welding after thepump impeller is mounted on the motor shaft. Here, it is advisable if,on the section of the pump casing that is connected to the motor casingby way of material-to-material bonding, the leadthrough of the motorshaft is embodied as end shield to which the motor is attached at thesame time so that, during assembly, the end shield provided with themotor and, optionally, also with the assembled rotor, can be insertedinto the motor casing and can be connected with the same in a waterproofand fixed manner by way of mechanical connecting means, by bonding orwelding.

In another embodiment of the invention it is provided that the pumpcasing is embodied so as to be pivotable relative to the motor casing inthe rotary plane of the pump impeller. This embodiment allows the jetorientation to be changed individually as desired by pivoting the pumpcasing when the hydromassage device is placed into the tub. If the pumpcasing is fixedly connected to the motor casing, a pivotably seateddischarge nozzle can be provided instead in the region of thenozzle-shaped discharge aperture of the pump casing.

In embodying the invention, it is provided that the holding means isformed by at least one elastic suction cup which is connected via aholding rail to one of the casing elements, preferably to the motorcasing. The embodiment of the holding means as suction cup is thesimplest solution for attaching the hydromassage device to the tub wall.Since the holding means is preferably connected to the motor casing,there is the advantageous option that the hydromassage device can beleft in the bathtub when the battery casing must be detached forcharging the batteries.

In another embodiment it is provided that the casing is detachablyconnected to the holding rail. It is particularly advantageous if thecasing is connected to the holding rail so as to be movable with respectto the latter. Here, the casing can be connected to the holding rail soas to be pivotable and/or displaceable so that the user has a variety ofoptions to independently set the jet orientation. It is also advisablefor the holding rail to be embodied in the manner of a telescope so thatits length can be changed. This offers the option to set the holdingrail to different tub dimensions and/or tub contours.

In a further embodiment of the invention it is provided that, as aswitch, at least one reed switch is arranged on one of the casings,preferably on the battery casing, with the reed switch being operablevia a sliding magnet. The arrangement of a reed switch has the advantagethat a contactless operation of the reeds is possible via the slidingmagnet and that, in this manner, any passage through the wall of thecasing is avoided and, accordingly, sealing problems are prevented.Furthermore, the arrangement of the reed switch on the battery casingoffers the advantage that if the battery set is replaced, whichadvisably is done by replacing a complete battery casing, a new, unusedswitch is also available at the same time, since switches of this typehave a limited service life in view of the albeit high number of contactfloats.

In further embodying the invention it is provided that the motor casingis embodied to be at least partially double-walled and that the gapbetween the inner wall and the outside wall is provided with an inletaperture and is connected to the pump intake, with the inner wallenclosing the motor in a waterproof manner. This arrangement has theadvantage that the motor can be cooled to a certain degree, even if thewater contained in the tub is heated.

The invention is explained in greater detail by way of embodiments withreference to schematic drawings. These show:

    ______________________________________                                        FIG. 1     a vertical section,                                                FIG. 2     a plan view of the battery casing in the                                      contact region,                                                    FIG. 3     a plan view of the motor casing in the contact                                region,                                                            FIG. 4     a side view of the motor casing in the                                        connecting region toward the battery casing,                       FIG. 5     in a pump casing which is embodied in two                                     sections, a front view of the motor casing                                    with a portion of the pump casing,                                 FIG. 6     a front view of the side of the pump casing                                   facing the motor casing,                                           FIG. 7     a section through the nozzle-shaped discharge                                 aperture according to line VII-VII in FIG. 6,                      FIG. 8     a side view of an embodiment of a holding                                     means,                                                             FIG. 9     an embodiment, partially cut,                                      FIG. 10    the embodiment according to FIG. 9 in a plan                                  view,                                                              FIG. 11    the embodiment according to FIG. 9 in a rear                                  view.                                                              ______________________________________                                    

As is shown in the sectional representation in FIG. 1, the hydromassagedevice is essentially composed of two sections, namely a battery casing1 and a motor casing 2 to which a pump casing 3 is fixedly connected. Apreferably rechargeable battery arrangement 4 is housed in the batterycasing 1, which battery arrangement may be comprised of severalindividual cells. For the application intended here, for example, abattery set of eight individual cells, each with 1.2 volt, is providedhaving a charge of 1700 mAh so that an output of approx. 35 Watt isavailable at a total voltage of 9.6 volt and a current of 6 ampere.

An electric motor 5 is arranged in the motor casing 2, with the outputof the motor being matched to the battery unit 4. Here, the motor 5 isconnected to an end shield 6 which simultaneously forms the end face ofthe motor casing 2 facing the pump casing 3. The drive shaft 7 of theelectric motor 5 is guided through the end shield 6 in a sealed mannerand is connected to a pump impeller 8.

In the embodiment illustrated here, the pump casing 3 and the pumpimpeller 8 are designed as centrifugal pump so that a channel-like,nozzle-shaped discharge aperture 9 tangentially adjoins the pump casing3. Here, the pump casing 3 is provided on its end face with a centralintake aperture 10 which is covered by a protective basket 11 so thatwater from the tub can be drawn in through the rotating pump impeller 8and can be discharged back into the tub in the form of a strong waterjet via the nozzle-shaped discharge aperture 9.

On the motor casing 2 and on the battery casing 1, an air intake pipe 12is arranged advisably on the outside which pipe is guided beyond the topin the region of the battery casing 1; the air intake pipe can either beconnected with a tube which can be guided to the outside of the tub orit can be provided with a downwardly curved intake fitting 13. At thepoint where the partial length 12.1, which is connected to the batterycasing 1, and the partial length 12.2, which is connected to the motorcasing 2, of the air intake pipe 12 are divided, a seal 12.3 isadvisably provided, for example, in the form of an inserted O-ring. Thisair intake pipe 12 is guided up into the channel-like, nozzle-shapeddischarge aperture 9; to improve the admission of air, a nozzle mouth 14oriented in the discharge direction can be provided here within thechannel-like region of the discharge aperture 9 so that from the waterwhich flows by at a high speed, air can be drawn in from the outside viathe air intake pipe 12 and air is mixed in by the water jet entering thetub filling.

Furthermore, a switch 15 that is accessible from the outside is providedon the battery casing 1, which switch can be formed, for example, by areed switch arranged in the interior chamber of the battery casing 1 andconnected to the wiring of the battery and which is operable via asliding magnet arranged on the outside of the battery casing 1. As isillustrated by FIG. 1, the battery casing is closed entirely and onlyprovided with contact members 16.1 and 17.1 on its end face facing themotor casing 2, to which contact members corresponding opposite contactmembers 16.2 and 17.2 are allocated on the corresponding end face of themotor casing 2, which contact members are connected to the motor windingby means of corresponding lines. In the operating state shown, i. e.,when the contact members are in contact, the contact members 16.1 and16.2 as well as the contact members 17.1 and 17.2 respectively form acontact pair 16 or 17 by means of which the battery and motor 5 areconnected.

While the motor casing 2 and the pump casing 3 are fixedly connectedwith one another, the battery casing 1 is detachably connected to themotor casing 2. Here, the connection can be effected via a screw, detentor snap connection which, however, must be embodied such that during theclosing of this connection, a defined allocation of battery casing 1 andmotor casing 2 takes place and a contact of respectively the two contactmembers of the contact pairs 16 and 17 as well as of the air intake pipehaving a divided embodiment is assured in the proper allocation.

The gap 18 between the battery casing 1 and the motor casing 2, in whichgap the two contact pairs 16 and 17 are arranged, must now be sealed soas to be waterproof. This waterproof sealing takes place, on the onehand, by an annular sealing arrangement 19.1 and 19.2 which is connectedto the battery casing 1 and respectively surrounds the contact member16.1 or 17.1 in an annular manner and projects beyond it to the extentthat in the operating state shown, in which the battery casing 1 and themotor casing 2 are fixedly connected with one another, the free edge ofthe annular seals 19.1 and 19.2 is pushed against the end face of themotor casing 2 with corresponding deformation and/or pressing. Thus, thecontact pair 16 and the contact pair 17 are each sealed tightly.Additionally, a further seal 20 can be provided in the form of asecondary seal which seals the gap 18 between the battery casing 1 andthe motor casing 2 as a whole. Here, it is advisable if, in the regionof the separating surface toward the motor casing 2, the battery casing1 is provided with a circumferential collar 21 which covers the motorcasing 2 in a bell-shaped manner so that here an additional protectionfrom penetrating water is provided in that the air from gap 18 cannotescape. The circumferential collar 21 can simultaneously comprise theconnecting means between the battery casing 1 and the motor casing 2,which connecting means may be embodied in the shape of pins, lugs,thread attachments or the like.

FIG. 2 illustrates the end face of the battery casing 1 limiting the gap18 in a plan view. The allocation of the individual components can betaken from the above description and the associated reference numerals.With this design, all components that are subject to wear or use such asthe batteries 4, the switch 15 as well as the seals 19 and 20 areconnected to the battery casing so that, when the batteries need to bereplaced, not only the batteries themselves are replaced but the entirebattery casing 1 with all assemblies and attachments, and thus acomplete unit with entirely new components is made available to theuser.

In a plan view , FIG. 3 illustrates the end face of the motor casing 2facing the gap 18, which, with the exception of the contact members 16.2and 17.2, is embodied as a smooth surface and is not provided with anyaccessory parts. Here, the contact members 16.2 and 17.2 may be embodiedin the shape of a button and be made of solid material so that acorrosive layer, which may have formed, can be taken off mechanically.In contrast, the contact members 16.1 and 17.1 on the battery casing canbe formed by resilient reeds since the battery casing as a whole must bereplaced after a certain period of use.

As is illustrated in the plan view according to FIG. 3 as well as in theassociated partial view according to FIG. 4, a corresponding number ofL-shaped recesses 22 is arranged on the outside circumference of themotor casing 2; to these recesses are allocated corresponding lugs onthe circumferential collar 21 of the battery casing 1 so that thebattery casing 1 can be plugged onto the motor casing 2 in the axialdirection and be latched together with the motor casing 2 by turning. Byway of a non-symmetrical positioning of the recesses 22 as well as ofthe associated lugs on the collar 21 it is ensured that the batterycasing 1 can only be plugged onto the motor casing 2 in a definedallocation. But the connection between battery casing 1 and motor casing2 may also be embodied in the form of other connection designs, forexample, in the form of a multiple thread with end stop notch or also inthe form of a straight plug-on snap connection which is to be operatedaxially.

FIG. 5 illustrates the end face of the motor casing 2 facing the pumpcasing 3. In the embodiment that is shown, this end face is configuredsuch that it already forms a portion of the pump casing 3. Here, acorresponding attachment 23 projecting beyond the diameter of the motorcasing 2 forms that portion of the pump casing embodied as a centrifugalpump which represents a wall of the channel-like, nozzle-shapeddischarge aperture 9 and the adjoining portion of the spiral casing.This portion is in direct connection with the air intake pipe 12 via anaperture 24 into which the nozzle mouth 14 may also be inserted duringassembly as a separate component.

To make the pump casing 3 complete, the cover element 3.1 shown incorresponding allocation in FIG. 6 must then be placed onto the end faceaccording to FIG. 5. During this process, the cover element 3.1 isadvisably fixedly connected with the motor casing 2 by means of bonding,welding or also by a mechanical connection, for example, by means ofscrews. This embodiment has the advantage that the motor casing 2 may beconfigured in the shape of a can so that then the motor 5 connected toelement 6 configured as end shield, which motor is already connectedwith the pump impeller 8, can be inserted into the can-shaped casingafter making contact with the contact members 16.2 and 17.2 and can betightly connected with the casing. Here, too, the connection can beaccomplished mechanically by means of screws or by way of bonding orwelding, optionally by placing a seal in-between. Then, the coverelement 3.1 which completes the pump casing 3 is placed onto the motorcasing 2 that was assembled in this manner.

For safety reasons, the mouth 25 of the nozzle-shaped discharge aperture9 must be provided with a protective cover 26. In the embodimentdescribed here, the protective cover may be formed by ribs 27 which aredirectly formed onto the cover element 3.1 in this region.

In the embodiment described above, the motor 5 is completelyencapsulated in the motor casing 2, with the option of providing for asufficient heat dissipation toward the outside by way of a correspondingdesign of and/or material selection for the motor casing. This ispossible, for example, in that the motor casing 2 is embodied such thatthe interior surface of its circumferential wall rests tightly againstthe motor 5 and is provided on the outside surface with correspondingcooling ribs around which washes the tub filling so that a direct heatoutflow is possible by way of the material of the motor casing and anoverheating of the motor can thus be prevented.

It is also possible, however, to embody the motor casing 2 with a doublewall; for the inside wall, a material with good thermal conductivity maybe selected, for example, a metal, or the motor may be designed suchthat the motor jacket, which is necessary anyhow, is already configuredas a waterproof casing. The gap created between the inside wallconnected with the motor 5 and the outside wall delimiting the casing 2toward the outside can now be connected to the tub filling via an inletaperture and be connected to the pump casing via a corresponding intakeaperture so that at least a portion of the flow amount which is to bedrawn in by the pump impeller is guided along the inside wall and coolsthe motor in this process.

In a schematic diagram, FIG. 8 illustrates a holding arrangement 28 forthe hydromassage device. It is essentially comprised of a holding rail29 which is angled in the illustrated embodiment and which is secured tothe edge 31 of the tub via an upper suction cup 30 and which is securedto the tub wall via a bottom suction cup 32 as holding means. Thehydromassage device is then connected to the holding rail 29. For thispurpose, the hydromassage device may be provided with a holding claw 33so that here a detachable connection with the holding rail 29 can beestablished. Here, the holding claw 33 may be configured such that itforms part of a hinge so that the holding claw is pivotably held on theholding rail 29 by means of a corresponding opposite element 35 via adetachable pivot pin 34. This holding element 35 may be connected to theholding rail 29 in a displaceable and lockable manner so that additionalsetting options are provided with regard to the height position of thehydromassage device relative to the tub wall.

In order to compensate for different tub slopes, it is advisable for thebottom suction cup 32 to be adjustable with respect to its distance fromthe holding rail 29 via a corresponding adjustment screw 36 so that theslope of the holding rail 29 vis-a-vis the tub wall can be changed.

The opposite element 35 may also be designed in the form of a crossbeamso that, if the holding claw 33 is embodied accordingly, thehydromassage device is adjustable with respect to the holding rail 29not only in the vertical but also in the horizontal. This design issuitable particularly for bathtubs with clearly contoured inner walls.

In the simplest embodiment, at least one suction cup can be secureddirectly on the hydromassage device, which suction cup allows thedesired adjustability of the orientation of the hydromassage devicerelative to the interior space of the tub if need be via a balljoint-type lockable connection between suction cup and hydromassagedevice.

The holding rail 29 may also be designed as a linear holding rail whoselength can be changed in the manner of a telescope, with the holdingrail allowing fastening parallel to a tub wall as well as fasteningtransversely to the longitudinal direction of the tub. Here, the use ofsuction cups as holding means is also advisable.

In the embodiment indicated in FIG. 8, the air intake pipe 12 integratedinto the casing of the hydromassage device is provided at its upper endwith an attachment 37 which allows the connection of an extension tube38. At its free end, this extension tube may be fixed on the tub edge31, for example, via a suction cup, or at a sufficient height on thetiles of the bathroom wall. The arrangement of an extension tube thenallows a free positioning of the hydromassage device in the bathtub. Byway of an angled mouth piece on the free end of the extension hose 38 itcan be ensured that the water that is pushed through the air intake pipe12 during the closing of the discharge aperture 9 then does not splashinto the bathroom but at most against the tiled wall or into the tubitself.

In its basic layout, the embodiment according to FIG. 9 corresponds tothe embodiment according to FIG. 1, but it is designed such that it hasa more compact construction. The pump casing 3.1 is fixedly connectedwith the motor casing 2.1 to form a constructional unit, with the motorcasing 2.1 being essentially arranged concentrically but with a smalldiameter on the pump casing 3.1. The battery casing 1.1 is embodied inthe shape of a semicylindrical jacket whose outside circumferencecorresponds approximately to the outside circumference of the pumpcasing 3.1 and which extends to the upper side of the casing 3.1. Theinside diameter of the semicylindrical jacket, which is open in thebottom section, corresponds approximately to the outside diameter of themotor casing 2.1 so that the constructional unit comprised of motorcasing 2.1 and pump casing 3.1 can be inserted with the motor casing 2.1into the recess of the battery casing 1.1 from below.

At its upper end, the battery casing 1.1 has a cylindrical receivingchamber 39, a sectional view of which is shown in FIG. 9. The switch 15is arranged in the upper region of this receiving chamber which switchis configured, for example, as a mechanical switch and whose handle 15.1is covered by an elastic cap 40 which is tightly connected with theupper end of the receiving chamber so that the handle 15.1 of the switchcan be operated by deforming the cap 40. The portion of the receivingchamber 39 housing the switch 15.1 is tightly sealed by way of a bottom41 against the insertion aperture oriented downward, with the bottomhaving the contact members 16.1 and 17.1 on its outer side. The switch15 may also be arranged on the front end of the motor casing 2.1 in acorresponding configuration, as is indicated with dash-dot lines in FIG.9.

Now, the small-diameter plug end 2.2 of the motor casing 2.1 is pluggedinto the open, free end 42 of the receiving chamber 39. The plug end isprovided with the seal 19, for example, in the form of an O-ring so thatthe open end 42 of the receiving chamber 39 is sealed so as to bewaterproof in the region of the contact members. At its end faces, theplug-in end 2.2 of the motor casing 2.1 is provided, in turn, withcorresponding contact members 16.2 and 17.2 so that, in the plugged-instate, the electrical connection is produced by the contact pairs 16.1,16.2 and 17.1, 17.2, respectively.

In the sealed region of the receiving chamber 39, the contact pairs canrespectively be arranged, on the one hand, on the inside circumferenceof the wall of the receiving chamber and, on the other hand, on theoutside circumference of the plug-in end 2.2.

As is indicated by the dash-dot line in FIG. 1, the motor casing 2.1 maybe configured to be double-walled, with the inner wall being embodied inthe form of an inside casing 48 extending up into the interior chamberof the pump casing 3.1. In the embodiment indicated, the inside casing48 in this region simultaneously forms the inner wall of the pump casingand the end shield 6. Here, the inside casing 48 is made of a materialhaving good thermal conductivity, for example, of aluminum. Thus, itbecomes possible to remove the heat generated by the dissipated energyof the motor by means of the water flowing through the pump casing. Thishas advantages compared to a double-walled embodiment in which the wateris drawn in by the pump through a gap. During this process, deposits mayform in the gap.

The plug-in end 2.2 of the motor casing 2.1 is provided with projectingpins 43 engaging correspondingly shaped grooves on the inside wall ofthe free, open end 42 of the receiving chamber 39 and forming a bayonetlock or a snap lock with these grooves.

If the batteries are to be charged, the bayonet lock is released and thebattery casing 1.1 is pulled off of the device portion and a chargingplug provided with its insert 2.2 corresponding to the motor casing 2.1is plugged into the receiving chamber 39 so that, again, thecorresponding contact pairs are in contact with one another and thebatteries disposed in the battery casing can be charged. If two batterycasings are provided for each unit, one set of batteries can be chargedwhile the other set of batteries is available for the bathing operation.As is shown in FIG. 1, the battery casing 1 is provided with aventilation aperture 49 which is closed by a diaphragm 50 which isimpermeable to water, but permeable for gas.

The air intake pipe 12 is formed onto the outside of the battery casing1.1 and is guided up to the upper outside wall 44 of the pump casing 3.1and ends there in an aperture which is not shown in detail and which isconnected with the nozzle-type discharge aperture 9 so that, from thewater flowing by at a high speed, air is drawn in through the aperturevia the air intake pipe and air is mixed into the water jet entering thetub filling. In this embodiment, the nozzle-type discharge aperture 9 isembodied in the form of a short nozzle pipe which is pivotably seated inthe pump casing 3.1 via a spherical body 9.1. Here, a seal between thedischarge end of the air intake pipe 12 and of the air intake aperturein the pump casing 3.1 can be dispensed with if the end of the airintake pipe 12 is guided close to the outside wall 44 of the pump casing3.1.

The central intake aperture 10 in the pump casing 3.1 is shielded towardthe bottom by a cover plate 45 arranged at a distance from the outsidewall of the pump casing 3.1 so that the water is drawn in through thecircumferential slot formed in this manner. In the region of thesupports 46 for the cover plate 45, this slot may also be provided witha strainer, not shown in detail, to prevent the risk of drawing in hair.

Advisably, the central discharge aperture 10 may also be provided withan axial discharge piece having a fixed, socalled hair trap on theinside. In this case, it is advisable that a detachable trap cover beplaced onto the mouth end of the discharge piece, which trap cover isprovided with a circumferential collar at its outside circumference.

As is shown in the plan view according to FIG. 10 and the rear viewaccording to FIG. 11, an attachment 47 is disposed in the rear region ofthe battery casing 1.1; the attachment is provided with a groove-likeholding rail 29 into which a suction cup 32 can be inserted so that thedevice can be secured on the inside wall of the bathtub.

I claim:
 1. A hydromassage device for use in a bathtub, said device having a pump casing which is connected to at least one intake aperture and to at least one nozzle-shaped discharge aperture, a pump impeller seated in said casing, a motor casing in which an electric drive motor is arranged, said drive motor being connected to said pump impeller, and further having a battery casing in which electrical batteries are arranged which are connected to the drive motor, said pump casing, said motor casing and said battery casing being connected with one another and at least one of said casings being provided with holding means for securing said device to a wall of the bathtub, characterized in that said battery casing and said motor casing are each formed by separate, waterproof casings having an outside wall, said outside walls are detachably connected with one another, said outside wall of said battery casing and said outside wall of said motor casing are respectively provided with a pair of electrical contact members which are in contact with one another when, in the operating state, both casings are connected with one another and which respectively form a contact pair with which the batteries and the drive motor are connected, sealing means being arranged around said contact pairs so as to prevent water from reaching said pairs.
 2. The hydromassage device according to claim 1, wherein the sealing means are configured for sealing each contact pair by itself.
 3. The hydromassage device according to claim 1, wherein the battery casing defines a receiving chamber having an open end region and a closed end region, the contact members of the battery casing being arranged in the closed end region of the receiving chamber, the contact members of the motor casing being insertable into the receiving chamber and being adapted to be interlocked therewith.
 4. The hydromassage device according to claim 3, wherein the receiving chamber, at least at the closed end region thereof, and the motor casing, at least at a region thereof allocated to the open end region of the receiving chamber, are cylindrical, the device further comprising a seal active between the receiving chamber and the motor casing.
 5. The hydromassage device according to claim 1, further comprising a latch connection connecting the battery casing and the motor casing with one another.
 6. The hydromassage device according to claim 1, wherein at least the motor casing includes an air intake pipe which ends in a region of the nozzle-shaped discharge aperture.
 7. The hydromassage device according to claim 6, wherein the air intake pipe is guided on an outside region of the battery casing and is divided in a connecting region between the motor casing and the pump casing.
 8. The hydromassage device according to claim 7, further comprising a sealing arrangement for sealing a dividing region of the air intake pipe against an outside region of the air intake pipe in an operating state of the device.
 9. The hydromassage device according to claim 1, wherein the pump casing includes two sections, one of the sections being connected in a material-to-material bonding arrangement with the motor casing.
 10. The hydromassage device according to claim 1, wherein the pump casing is pivotable relative to the motor casing in a rotary plane of the pump impeller.
 11. The hydromassage device according to claim 1, further comprising a holding rail, the holding means including a suction cup connected via the holding rail to one of the battery casing and the motor casing.
 12. The hydromassage device according to claim 11, wherein said one of the battery casing and the motor casing is detachably connected to the holding rail.
 13. The hydromassage device according to claim 11, wherein said one of the battery casing and the motor casing is connected to the holding rail so as to be movable relative thereto.
 14. The hydromassage device according to claim 11, wherein the holding rail includes a telescoping structure such that a length thereof is changeable.
 15. The hydromassage device according to claim 1, further comprising a switch disposed on one of the battery casing and the motor casing.
 16. The hydromassage device according to claim 1, wherein the motor casing is at least partially double-walled and includes an inner wall connected to the motor and an outer wall defining an inlet aperture therein connected to the pump intake.
 17. The hydromassage device according to claim 1, wherein the motor casing is at least partially double-walled and includes an inner wall configured as an inside casing made of a material having a relatively high thermal conductivity and extending into an interior chamber of the pump casing.
 18. The hydromassage device according to claim 17, wherein the inside casing simultaneously forms at least a portion of an inner wall of the pump casing.
 19. The hydromassage device according to claim 1, wherein the battery casing defines a ventilation aperture and includes a diaphragm covering the ventilation aperture, the diaphragm being permeable to gas and impermeable to water. 